Studies of acoustical parameters in open-plan offices

Abstract

The major acoustical elements of open-plan offices—windows, walls, ceilings, and partial-height screens—have been studied in laboratory simulations of open-office acoustical problems. The basic test environment is an anechoic room with a carpet-covered plywood floor over which the test elements are deployed. Measurements of attenuation provided by various configurations were made in one-third-octave bands and the data processed to permit study of seven single-figure ratings for attenuation between work stations (the ’’interzone attenuation’’). Of the ratings tested the A-weighted level and the Noise Isolation Class correlated best with Articulation Index, which is taken as the ’’true’’ measure of performance. For testing ceiling systems it is confirmed that the commonly used test arrangement is insensitive to significant changes in the ceiling system. A simple modification of the procedure is proposed.